CCJ and trying to rent

Landlord Discussion
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Hi everyone,

Myself, my partner and our 4 year old son are looking for a long term family home in York.

I have held my current tenancy for 7 years and have never missed a rent payment and have maintained the property in a good condition and my landlord is happy to provide a reference to reflect this.

We are able to offer 6 months rent upfront and can provide a reputable guarantor (CEO of an organisation and homeowner) and we have a combined income of around £50000 and work in respectable jobs (I work in a womens refuge, my partner works in a prison)

My partner has an excellent credit score with no issues. However, I had an ongoing dispute with my ex partner regarding a water bill that we were both liable for and he had assured he was paying. We later split and I tried to sort the bills out and change them into my name and was informed by Yorkshire water that I couldn’t set up a payment as there was £515 overdue (he had just thrown away reminder letters) and they had already issued a claim to the court and I needed to wait for the claim pack. I tried to fight my case however due to me also being named on the account I was equally liable. A CCJ was then issued including court fees so in total it was £695. I couldn’t settle this within the month so the CCJ is there for 6 years. It was issued in late 2024 and was satisfied in summer 2025.

We recently applied for a property and in fairness there was a lot of competition and so I can completely understand why the landlord went with someone else given my CCJ.

I’m just wondering if this is going to be a complete roadblock now? We are just using Rightmove and Zoopla as there are no properties on OpenRent in York so are pretty much just going through letting agents. I have read that a lot of letting agents automatically reject tenants with CCJs due to policy?

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@Amy70

Various ccj threads here already

Obviously all those people with ccjs must be living somewhere and some LLs must be renting to some of them. If that is the letting agent policy they will ask upfront and wouldnt be wasting time doing a viewing with you

You have lots of positives. Be open about it before any referencing emphasizing its all been paid off and was a historical issue with a previous partner.

Good luck

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For me, you didn’t just have a month to pay it. You would’ve received the claims pack, it would’ve taken time for hearing to be set and for you to attempt to fight your case. This must’ve meant you had several months to save up or borrow £695.

I would be concerned to rent to any Tenant that earned over £50,000 a year if they couldn’t money manage / save to cope with a £695 emergency payment.

Of course there might be many mitigating factors, but if the Landlord has numerous applications, they may not take the time to hear them. realistically you may well not be at the top of the list.

2 Likes
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Be up front with LLs about this and you should not have any problems with any LL worth their salt. I would want to see a bank statement from the month the CCJ was issued to prove that you couldn’t pay it off at that time. Along with the last 6 months of bank statements that I’d get as standard anyway, that would be enough to back up your story.

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If the story checks out, many landlords will rent to you. You just have to keep trying. I would suggest you have evidence to hand of the reason for the ccj and the fact that its satisfied.

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